The vast majority of people use cosmetics daily and consider them essential. Before a cosmetic product is deemed safe for human use, it undergoes safety evaluation tests. These tests screen for toxic substances and assess the potency of the product.
Beauty product testing aims to lower the risk of side effects from cosmetic products’ intentional and unintentional use. It is carried out to determine if a product will cause skin irritation, contact allergy, acne, and other subjective symptoms.
This article will discuss everything you need about personal care and cosmetic product testing. We’ll also discuss what to look for when choosing a testing lab.
So whether you’re thinking about starting your own personal care line or just want to learn more about the beauty industry, read on for all the information you need!
Why Test Beauty Products?
Beauty products, makeup, and cosmetics are substances applied to the skin, hair, and nails to improve complexion and enhance physical appearance. Cosmetics users gain psychological, emotional, and social benefits from the improved look provided by the product.
Currently, over 3000 natural and synthetic substances are used in cosmetic products. Safety worries linger even when the origin of a cosmetic ingredient is known.
Some of these chemical ingredients are present in various industrial products and drugs. Some chemical ingredients are hazardous under certain circumstances, such as high concentrations.
Side effects from cosmetic products occur frequently. Most of these side effects are mild, and consumers hardly notice them.
Cosmetics, especially those made for women, are meant to come in contact with the skin for long periods. This increases the risk of side effects if the products are not safe.
Some side effects recorded from cosmetics such as makeup include skin irritation, contact allergy, acne, contact urticaria, pigment changes, hair and nail changes, and other subjective sensations such as burning the skin.
Skin Irritation
Skin irritation is the redness, swelling, itching, or broken skin that can happen when you use certain personal care products. Irritation can be very discomforting and painful, depending on the concentration of the irritant.
Contact Allergy
A contact allergy is when your skin has an allergic reaction to an ingredient in a product. This can cause a rash, bumps, or hives. For example, women may observe bumps after washing off makeup.
Acne
Acne is a skin condition that some ingredients in cosmetics can cause. It is characterized by comedones, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammation.
Pigment Changes
Pigment changes are usually temporary and not harmful. They can develop with the use of certain cosmetics, especially those that contain dyes or pigments.
Hair and Nail Changes
Hair and nail changes can occur using hair dyes, straighteners, and nail products. These changes are usually not permanent and will fade off with time.
Other Subjective Sensations
Some people may experience other skin sensations such as burning, stinging, tingling, or numbness when using certain cosmetics in the market today. These sensations are usually mild and temporary.
Personal care products come in direct contact with the human body. Therefore, extra care is taken to protect users from microbiological and chemical contamination and other possible toxic effects. Cosmetic products are also evaluated for their stability after manufacturing, including the effectiveness of preservative agents.
Types Of Cosmetic Product Testing
There are two main types of beauty product tests: safety testing and efficacy testing.
Safety Testing
The first and most important type of test is the safety test. This test ensures that a product does not contain harmful ingredients that could cause skin irritation or other adverse reactions.
All beauty products must undergo safety testing before being sold in the market. Some common types of safety tests conducted on cosmetic products include the following: Skin Irritation test, Skin Sensitization test, Eye Irritation test, Stability test, Toxicology test, Phototoxicity test, and Microbial test.
Efficacy Testing
To verify advertising claims made on a product’s packaging, cosmetic brands carry out several procedures known as “efficacy testing” during the research and development of a product.
Efficacy testing is not required by law, but many brands conduct these tests before pushing products to the market to ensure their formulation lives up to customer expectations and to support their claims.
An efficacy test can be conducted by sending prototypes or samples of your personal care products to a group of volunteers who will apply the products for a week or two, make observations, and then give you honest reviews. This is mostly free and not reliable.
A more effective way, which is not free, is to contract the tests to another company known as a beauty testing lab. A beauty testing lab is an organization that reviews cosmetics products on behalf of a beauty brand or a manufacturer.
A beauty testing lab pays people to test products. Samples of your products will be sent to paid product testers who will use the products, fill out a review form and give valuable feedback, which is collated and sent back to your company.
Cosmetic testing brands are understanding. You can choose the claims you want to be tested. You can also request that the beauty testing lab focuses on a specific demographic, such as women, for the product test.
Several beauty testing labs, such as The Benchmarking Company, The Pink Panel, Cosmetic Testing Lab, and Ametek, offer excellent cosmetic product testing services.
Remember that while safety tests are essential, these claims are not foolproof. Even if a product passes all the safety tests, it is always possible to cause irritation or other adverse reactions in some people, thereby going against its claims. Therefore, it’s important to conduct efficacy tests to reduce risk and ensure that your products do not affect customers negatively.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Beauty Testing Lab
Accreditation
First, you want to ensure that the lab is accredited by a reputable organization such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Commission (EC). This ensures that the lab meets certain quality standards and can conduct accurate tests.
Integrity
When you’re entrusting your products to a lab for testing, you want to be sure that the lab has integrity and will not tamper with your products. You don’t want to give your products to a beauty testing lab that will make a copy of your product for another cosmetics company. Make sure to choose a lab that will keep its word, be focused, and not sell you out before your formulation gets to market.
Expertise
Make sure the lab you choose has experience handling the range of product types you’re looking to test. Some labs specialize in personal care products, while others may have more experience with moisturizers, fragrances, makeup, or hair care products.
Price
Another crucial factor to consider is the price of the tests. Some labs may charge more for their services, but paying a little extra is worth it if you’re looking for accuracy and quality.
Turnaround Time
You should also inquire about the lab’s turnaround time. Depending on the product you’re testing, you may need results back within a few days or weeks. Make sure the lab you choose can accommodate your expected marketing timeline and expectation range.
Reputation
The majority of manufacturers and cosmetics testing lab services have a website. Search online to find out the reputation of the business. Look for customer feedback and endorsements. For your beauty product testing, collaborating with a respected brand is essential.
Customer Service
Finally, you’ll want to consider the customer service of the lab. You want to be able to contact the lab with any questions or concerns you may have about your product tests. To ensure a smooth brand relationship, the support team should be courteous, competent, and able to answer all personal care product-related questions.
Conclusion
Testing your beauty products is an essential step in ensuring the safety and efficacy of your products before your product gets to consumers. You’ll want to consider several factors when choosing a lab to test your products, including accreditation, experience, price, turnaround time, and customer service. By taking the time to choose the right lab for your needs, you can guarantee that you’re getting accurate results that will help you improve your products.
Now that you know everything there is to know about beauty product testing, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to have your products tested and which type of test is best for your needs. If you decide to have your products tested, choose a reputable and experienced beauty testing lab that meets all the above criteria.
